Even after the back-to-back successes of "Zombieland" and "The Social Network," it was never quite clear if Jesse Eisenberg would be able to maintain a lasting stardom. He's an immensely talented actor, but also one who's been strongly associated with a certain kind of role, one that, like Michael Cera, risked the general public tiring of him quite quickly. But while his immediate follow-up to "The Social Network," "30 Minutes Or Less," was something of a disappointment, he's made several smart choices of late, from star-laden heist blockbuster "Now You See Me" to a dual role in "The Double,"Richard Ayoade's follow-up to the acclaimed "Submarine."

And now, along with another young actress who's been making a series of interesting decisions, he's in talks for a project that might be his boldest yet, as Variety report that Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning are in discussions to join Peter Sarsgaardin the cast of "Night Moves," the latest film from acclaimed indie auteur Kelly Reichardt, the director of "Old Joy," "Wendy & Lucy" and "Meek's Cutoff."

The film revolves around three eco-terrorists plotting to blow up a dam, with Sarsgaard playing the bomb-maker, Eisenberg (who replaces Paul Dano, who was previously attached to the role) as the group's leader, and Fanning as a wealthy young woman who funds the group. Rooney Mara had been loosely linked to Fanning's role, but is presumably tied up with her participation in Terrence Malick's latest.

Anyway, it seems like a great choice for all three principals involved, and it's good to see the film coming together after a distinct lack of news of late; we're particularly intrigued to see Reichardt, who's three-for-three at this point in our eyes, tackle subject matter with more of a contemporary edge than her last picture. Filming starts in October, so this seems like a good bet for Venice and/or TIFF in 2013.

Comments

jingmei
May 13, 2016 7:48 am

By all means this is just an awesome project. This cool director has a cool tie with someone who is like Michelle Williams. The beautiful Wendy and Lucy is for sure something worthy. One of the long points of one of my favorites Jesse Eisenberg is he's good at depicting someone nobody on the edge of nerves, so this role sounds like is good for him.